La Liga: Mourinho hints at rotating Real Madrid’s squad in Malaga encounter
By Joel Masibo, August 30, 2026Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has confirmed he will make changes to his starting lineup when his side hosts newly promoted Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
Madrid has won its opening two games this season, beating Espanyol 2-1 away before a 4-1 home victory over Real Sociedad. However, speaking to reporters on Saturday, August 29, 2026, Mourinho stressed that the World Cup has made preparations for the new campaign difficult.
“I never tire of repeating that there are players who have had different preseason experiences, but we have a strong squad with solutions to compensate for these issues,” Mourinho said.
The coach confirmed that Spain international Marc Cucurella was in line to start on Sunday ahead of Alvaro Carreras, but explained, “if Cucurella runs out of steam, we have Alvaro to come on. It’s the kind of solution a squad like this provides a coach.”
Mourinho was also asked about record signing Yan Diomande and pointed out that because of his transfer from RB Leipzig, “Diomande arrived late and had a difficult summer. He didn’t train with Leipzig.”
“When he arrived, he didn’t have a fitness base to work with, but he’s progressing gradually. He’s getting better and better,” Mourinho said.
Mourinho was optimistic that the quality of Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe would “push them and everyone else to be better and better. I couldn’t be happier with just a couple of weeks of working together,” before praising Jude Bellingham.
“He’s unique,” Mourinho said, adding that the England international has “different talents: physical, mental, tactical, recovery, his goal-scoring ability, his aerial game. He’s impressive.”
However, Mourinho insisted that despite the individual quality in his squad, collective performance remains the priority.
“The team has to function as a team, play as a team, suffer as a team, struggle as a team, and dominate as a team,” he said.
Praise for Bellingham
The Portuguese tactician also reserved prasies for England internal Jude Bellingham, saying:
“He is a unique and super important player for the team. He is a player with different talents, from physical to mental and tactical. He also has the ability to recover balls, press, and score goals, and his aerial game. He is an absolutely impressive player, but I don’t like to talk too much about Kylian, Vini, or Jude. I understand the reason for the questions, but I am very happy with all the players.”
“As I said in a press conference some time ago, we have great players, very great players, and outstanding players. The team has to function as a team. Madridistas go to the Bernabéu to see these standout individuals, but they also go to the Bernabéu to see a team play as a team, suffer as a team, face difficulties, like we did during a period against Real Sociedad, and dominate as a team. I am the coach of this team, and I really like all the players I have.” He said.